Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke
I find progress somewhere else after skipping a rainy 10K run. This morning was warmer than yesterday, considerably wetter, and apparently determined to make my usual Saturday 10K as unappealing as possible. The humidity was already high when I woke up, but I got dressed and prepared for my run anyway.
Then I reached the front porch. It was raining. Not a pleasant little drizzle, either. It was raining hard enough that I stood there contemplating the prospect of spending nearly two hours running through heat, humidity, and steady rain.
Usually, I can tolerate one or two of those. Today, the weather had apparently purchased the complete package. I decided I simply didn’t want to do it. Some days, perseverance means heading out despite imperfect conditions. Other days, you look at the weather, reconsider your life choices, and walk back inside.
Today belonged to the second category. Once I made the decision, I simply continued my morning as though I had completed the run.
Next came vacuuming, followed by a shower and then breakfast. Admittedly, showering without first becoming completely drenched in sweat was a rather pleasant novelty. Some encouraging news was also waiting for me on the scale. After spending much of the summer struggling to maintain my weight, I have finally gained enough to reach the exact middle of my target range.
Not barely inside it. Not hovering nervously along the lower boundary. Right in the middle. Considering how much my weight has fluctuated with running, lawn mowing, and other summer activities, I am quite happy to see it there. The day’s progress wasn’t limited to my weight, either.
We finished caulking around the bathroom sink vanity, which means that part of our seemingly endless bathroom project is finally ready for the plumber.
I’ll call on Monday and hopefully arrange for someone to come early next week. So far, our plumbing company has usually managed to send someone within a day, so this stage of the project may move quickly.
I have learned not to say that too confidently. Home renovation projects can be optimistic. So, no 10K today. Still, my chores are done, my weight is exactly where I want it, and another part of the bathroom project is ready to move forward. Sometimes sticking to the plan is important. Other times, success is knowing when the plan deserves a rain check.